360 degree pivotal vehicle child seat and associated method

Abstract

A pivotal vehicle child seat and associated method includes a base member with a top surface and vertically upstanding walls formed therewith. The top surface is countersunk below a top edge of the walls, such that a recessed cavity is formed therein, and a seat member is vertically stacked on top of the base member and has a bottom ridge within the recessed cavity. A mechanism lifts and swivels the seat member above the base member and about a vertically registered fulcrum axis centrally defined within the recessed cavity. The mechanism is maintained at a locked position so the user is required to actively maintain an actuating force traversing the fulcrum axis so that the bottom ridge remains elevated above the recessed cavity during swiveling procedures.

1. A portable vehicle child seat for enabling a caregiver to easily access a child in space-restricted vehicle zones, said child seat comprising:
 a base member having a top surface and a plurality of vertically upstanding walls monolithically formed therewith, said top surface being countersunk below a top edge of said walls such that a recessed cavity is formed within an inner perimeter of said walls; 
 a seat member vertically stacked on top of said base member and having a bottom ridge removably disposed within said recessed cavity; 
 means for lifting and swiveling said seat member above said base member and about a vertically registered fulcrum axis centrally defined within said recessed cavity such that said bottom ridge is elevated above said top edge of said walls to thereby allow said seat member to freely rotate along a 360 degree path above said base member; 
 wherein said seat member lifting and rotating means comprises
 a plurality of notches formed within said inner perimeter of said walls and juxtaposed therealong; 
 a platform statically anchored to a bottom surface of said seat member and centrally abutted against said bottom ridge, said platform protruding downwardly from said bottom ridge and having a plurality of ribs radially flanging outwardly from an exterior perimeter of said platform such that said ribs are slidably intercalated within said notches when said seat member is positioned on said base member; and 
 
 a rectilinear shaft directly connected to said top surface and said bottom surface of said seat section respectively, said shaft being aligned along the vertical axis wherein the vertical axis is centrally positioned within said walls and oriented perpendicular to said bottom surface; 
 wherein said seat member lifting and swiveling means further comprises
 a cam member seated within said recessed cavity and monolithically abutted against a bottom most end of said shaft; 
 a rectilinear actuating arm horizontally spanning into said recessed cavity and confronting said cam member such that a distal end of said actuating arm directly contacts said cam member during operating conditions; and 
 a deformably resilient spring member having axially opposed ends directly and statically coupled to said shaft and said top surface of said base member respectively, said spring member being releasably compressed along a vertical path when said actuating lever is guided beneath said cam member; 
 wherein said cam member is upwardly guided when said actuating arm is pressed inwardly towards a center of said recessed cavity to thereby lift said shaft along a vertical path and create an unencumbered horizontal plane between said walls of said base member and said bottom ridge of said seat member, said seat member being freely rotatable along said horizontal plane while said shaft is biased at an elevated position. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The child seat of  claim 1 , wherein said cam member is downwardly guided along a vertical path when said actuating arm is retracted away therefrom so that said shaft returns to a lowered rested position. 
   
   
     3. The child seat of  claim 1 , wherein said notches have open top surfaces thereby allowing said ribs to vertically disengage therefrom when said shaft is lifted to the elevated position. 
   
   
     4. A portable vehicle child seat for enabling a caregiver to easily access a child in space-restricted vehicle zones, said child seat comprising:
 a base member having a top surface and a plurality of vertically upstanding walls monolithically formed therewith, said top surface being countersunk below a top edge of said walls such that a recessed cavity is formed within an inner perimeter of said walls; 
 a seat member vertically stacked on top of said base member and having a bottom ridge removably disposed within said recessed cavity; 
 means for lifting and swiveling said seat member above said base member and about a vertically registered fulcrum axis centrally defined within said recessed cavity such that said bottom ridge is elevated above said top edge of said walls to thereby allow said seat member to freely rotate along a 360 degree path above said base member, said seat member lifting and swiveling means being naturally maintained at a locked position such that the user is required to actively maintain an actuating force traversing the fulcrum axis so that said bottom ridge remains elevated above said recessed cavity during swiveling procedures; 
 wherein said seat member lifting and rotating means comprises 
 a plurality of notches formed within said inner perimeter of said walls and juxtaposed therealong; 
 a platform statically anchored to a bottom surface of said seat member and centrally abutted against said bottom ridge, said platform protruding downwardly from said bottom ridge and having a plurality of ribs radially flanging outwardly from an exterior perimeter of said platform such that said ribs are slidably intercalated within said notches when said seat member is positioned on said base member; and 
 a rectilinear shaft directly connected to said top surface and said bottom surface of said seat section respectively, said shaft being aligned along the vertical axis wherein the vertical axis is centrally positioned within said walls and oriented perpendicular to said bottom surface; 
 wherein said seat member lifting and swiveling means further comprises 
 a cam member seated within said recessed cavity and monolithically abutted against a bottom most end of said shaft; 
 a rectilinear actuating arm horizontally spanning into said recessed cavity and confronting said cam member such that a distal end of said actuating arm directly contacts said cam member during operating conditions; and 
 a deformably resilient spring member having axially opposed ends directly and statically coupled to said shaft and said top surface of said base member respectively, said spring member being releasably compressed along a vertical path when said actuating lever is guided beneath said cam member; 
 wherein said cam member is upwardly displaced along a vertical and linear direction when said actuating arm is pressed inwardly towards a center of said recessed cavity to thereby lift said shaft along a vertical path and create an unencumbered horizontal plane between said walls of said base member and said bottom ridge of said seat member, said seat member being freely rotatable along said horizontal plane while said shaft is biased at an elevated position. 
 
   
   
     5. The child seat of  claim 4 , wherein said cam member is downwardly displaced along a vertical and linear direction when said actuating arm is retracted away therefrom so that said shaft returns to a lowered rested position. 
   
   
     6. The child seat of  claim 4 , wherein said notches have open top surfaces thereby allowing said ribs to vertically disengage therefrom when said shaft is lifted to the elevated position.